Can You Sue for a Fall Due to Loose Floor Mat in a Business?

Loose or bunched-up mats and rugs may look harmless, but research shows they are a frequent source of serious injuries.

One national study found that nearly 38,000 older adults are treated in emergency rooms each year for falls involving rugs or carpets, with head and neck injuries among the most common outcomes. Another long-term review estimated more than 245,000 rug-related injuries across all age groups over two decades, an average of 34 people hurt every single day.

These accidents often happen when mats shift underfoot, edges curl upward, or rugs lack proper non-slip backing. And inside businesses such as retail stores, restaurants, and office buildings, these hazards create not only a safety issue but also potential legal liability.

If you’ve been injured by a loose floor mat or rug, knowing how cases of negligence apply can help you understand your options for seeking compensation.

Why Are Loose Floor Mats and Rugs a Common Hazard in Businesses?

Mats and rugs serve an important purpose: they reduce moisture and provide traction on slippery surfaces.

But when these items aren’t secured properly, they become tripping hazards themselves. Entry mats shift under heavy foot traffic, rug corners curl up over time, and mats without non-slip backing slide across smooth floors. These issues create unexpected obstacles that catch customers off guard.

Trip-and-fall incidents involving floor coverings account for a large percentage of premises liability claims filed each year. The injuries that result can be severe, particularly for older adults or people with pre-existing conditions.

Businesses must recognize that the very items installed for safety can pose risks if not maintained correctly.

Do Businesses Have a Legal Duty to Prevent Trip-and-Fall Hazards?

Under premises liability law, property owners and operators owe a duty of care to people who enter their establishments. Customers, classified as “invitees” under legal terminology, receive the highest level of protection. This means businesses must take reasonable steps to keep their premises safe.

These obligations include conducting routine inspections, performing regular maintenance, and addressing hazards promptly. If a dangerous condition can’t be fixed right away, the business must provide adequate warnings.

Failure to meet these responsibilities can form the basis of a negligence claim.

When Is a Business Considered Negligent for a Loose Floor Mat?

Negligence occurs when a business breaches its duty of care and that breach causes harm.

For a loose floor mat case, this might involve failing to use mats with slip-resistant backing, neglecting to replace worn or damaged mats, or ignoring complaints from employees or guests about rugs bunching up.

A key factor is foreseeability. If the business knew about the hazard (or should have known through reasonable diligence) they can be held liable. For example, if a mat has been sliding out of place for weeks and no one secured it, the business likely failed to exercise proper care. Documentation showing prior complaints or maintenance gaps strengthens a victim’s case.

What Evidence Do You Need to Prove Liability in a Rug or Mat Fall?

Building a strong premises liability case requires concrete evidence.

Surveillance footage can be particularly valuable, showing exactly how the accident occurred and the condition of the mat beforehand. Photographs of the loose rug or mat, taken as soon after the fall as possible, document the hazard’s appearance and location.

Maintenance logs and cleaning records reveal whether the business followed proper procedures. Gaps in these records can indicate negligence. Witness statements from other customers or employees who saw the fall(or noticed the hazard beforehand) add credibility to your account. Medical records create a clear link between the fall and your injuries, establishing the extent of damages.

What Role Does Comparative Negligence Play in These Cases?

Businesses often defend themselves by claiming the injured person should have been watching where they walked.

This defense falls under comparative negligence, a legal doctrine that assigns a percentage of fault to each party involved.

If a court finds you partially responsible for your injuries, your compensation gets reduced proportionally.

States follow different systems: some use pure comparative negligence (you can recover even if you’re 99% at fault, though your award is reduced by that percentage), while others apply modified comparative negligence (you can’t recover if you’re 50% or 51% at fault, depending on the state).

Can a Third Party Ever Be Liable Instead of the Business?

Sometimes responsibility extends beyond the business owner.

If a janitorial service placed the mat improperly, that company might share liability. Product liability claims can arise if a manufacturer produced defective mats that lacked proper backing or were designed unsafely. Contractors who supplied or installed flooring materials could also bear responsibility if their work created hazardous conditions.

These cases can become complex, involving multiple defendants and insurance companies. An experienced attorney can identify all potentially liable parties and pursue maximum compensation.

Are There Deadlines for Filing a Claim After a Rug or Mat Fall?

Statutes of limitations impose strict deadlines on personal injury claims, typically ranging from one to three years depending on your state. Missing this deadline means losing your right to sue, regardless of how strong your case is.

Special rules apply if your accident occurred in a government building or on public property. These claims often require filing a formal notice within a much shorter timeframe, sometimes as little as 60 to 90 days. Consulting an attorney quickly helps protect your legal rights.

Do Liability Waivers or “Enter at Your Own Risk” Signs Affect Your Claim?

Some businesses post disclaimers or ask customers to sign waivers, attempting to limit their liability. These measures don’t automatically protect businesses from negligence claims. Courts scrutinize such waivers carefully, examining whether they’re enforceable under state law.

Even where waivers are valid, they typically don’t shield businesses from gross negligence or intentional harm. If a hazard was foreseeable and preventable, businesses can’t simply disclaim responsibility through signage.

Each case requires individual analysis based on specific circumstances and local laws.

So, Can You Sue After Falling Over a Loose Mat or Rug?

Yes, you may have grounds to sue if your fall was caused by a loose or poorly maintained mat or rug in a business. These cases typically fall under premises liability law, which holds property owners and operators responsible when they fail to keep their premises reasonably safe for visitors.

To succeed, you generally need to prove three key elements:

• The business owed you a duty of care as a customer or visitor.
• That duty was breached because the mat or rug was hazardous and not corrected in time.
• The unsafe condition directly caused your injuries and resulting damages, such as medical bills or lost income.

Every case depends on its facts, and defenses like comparative negligence may reduce or limit recovery. But if the evidence shows the business ignored a foreseeable hazard, like mats without non-slip backing, bunched-up rugs, or repeated complaints that went unresolved, a lawsuit could be the right path to secure compensation.

Protect Your Rights After a Fall Caused by a Loose Mat or Rug with Thompson Law

If a business failed to secure or maintain its floor coverings and you were hurt as a result, legal action may be available. Premises liability cases depend on evidence, timelines, and a clear showing of negligence. An experienced injury attorney can evaluate your case, gather proof of unsafe conditions, and pursue compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and recovery costs.

Contact a personal injury lawyer today for a FREE CONSULTATION and learn what steps you can take to protect your claim. We cover all areas of California, Georgia, Arizona, and Texas.